Triple injury blow for Gunners

2011-09-27 15:51

London - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been hit by a triple injury blow ahead of Wednesday's clash against Olympiakos after Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Laurent Koscielny were all ruled out of the Champions League tie.

England winger Walcott is sidelined after suffering a knee injury in Saturday's 3-0 win over Bolton, while French defender Koscielny has an ankle problem sustained in a challenge with Bolton's Nigel Reo-Coker.

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho is struggling with a muscle strain and won't recover in time to face the Greeks at the Emirates Stadium.

The good news for Wenger is the trio's recovery time is expected to be quick.

He rates Walcott's chances of returning for this weekend's north London derby against Tottenham as better than 50-50 and retains hope that Koscielny and Gervinho could also be fit for the trip to White Hart Lane.

"Koscielny, Gervinho and Walcott are not fit," Wenger said on Tuesday.

"All three have a chance for the weekend. Walcott could make the derby. He has more than a 50-50 chance."